Animal control could have done a better job -- Letter to the Editor
| Animal control could have done a better job |
Letter to the Editor 4/22/2006 Eureka Reporter |
| A couple of things came to mind when I heard about the shooting of Cheri Moore. First, why wasn’t tear gas or some other non-lethal weapon used? We treat rabid animals better than we treated this poor woman. A park ranger can drop a bear with a tranquilizer dart, yet in our progressive society we treated the poorest and sickest worse then we treat animals. Beside the fact that if Cheri came from a family with money she would have been treated differently, as I’ve seen in the past, old boys with guns don’t even get charges pressed by the EPD. On top of all that, it was Good Friday right before Easter, the same day an ancient SWAT team killed another person whom that society proclaimed a mentally ill homeless man. As Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.” Matthew. 25:40 We need a citizens’ police review board. Eric Heimstadt Eureka |
posted by policereview @ 9:00 AM
1 Comments:
As for suspicious details in the reports from Cheri's summary execution I can't help but note that the flare gun she was repeatedly said to have been brandishing prior to the final assault was mysteriously replaced with "a weapon" after the entry of the SWAT team and it's broadside hail of fire. Also any fear that the threat was that she would ignite gas would seem artificial considering the discharge of their different fire arms inside the apartment.
My main doubts concerning the implementation of an independent police review board are will such a board will have any more access to the law enforcement agencies in question than the grand jury or the attorney general's office which can be easily lied to and, moreso, the immposibility of getting fair trials in the court system. The Humboldt County public defender's office handled well over 5,000 cases last year (I posted the exact break down on a blog of my own which you can see here)and in cases of harassment, stalking and death threats people are now told to "get a lawer and seek a restraining order". Cheri was being harassed by all accounts. She had allegedly been prohibited from having visitors among other things. What middle class American would stand still for that? How many people would start yelling when denied all recourse and free speech itself?
For the extreme right to abuse the least among us is a terrible crime and, as you suggest Eric, to do so in the name of Jesus an abomination.
Anyone who thinks the courts are a fair and balanced venue to air differences should go sit in on them. The parade of poor people who often don't understand why they are there or are their for the pettiest of things being are "processed" with the only meager help of a public defender who moves rapidly amongst them. It is generally aknowledged that it is better to plead guilty even to things you never dreampt of doing rather than invoke the ire of the heavily burdened court by asking for a trial which the public defender has few resources to succesfully represent you with.
It is difficult for law enforcement also; they must be a part of the "process" and it is much easier to add an "open bottle" to a DUI case report or a "weapon" to a police shooting than actually investigate, take fingerprints and so on. They cheat. Once people start cheating, even for a good end such as putting someone you know is a danger to the community away you are lost. The safeguards built into our justice system are breached and, like water rushing over the New Orleans levees, the abuses by law enforcement personelle escalate. The upcomming trial of Michael Gainey, a veteran Humboldt County Sheriff's deputy, is one example. He was caught comitting perjury that was instrumental in sending a man to prison for two years. He has also been accused of identity theft, selling badges and I think something else. What sticks out in my mind is that his lies were blatant as though he felt there was no chance of anyone ever questioning them. I doubt he is unique and I doubt that an independent police review board will be enough to stop the systemic corruption in the world's most imprisoned nation (check it out...both raw numbers and per capita rates) but I do think it is a great first step and it has my whole hearted support.
Post a Comment
Links to this post:
Create a Link
<< Home